Ricky Watters is Coming Back This Weekend, and He’s Not in Great Shape

Ricky Watters will be the Eagles’ honorary captain on Sunday. For what? I don’t know.

The oft-maligned former running back, whose time in Philly is fortunately or unfortunately summed up by those four simple words (well, three), will probably receive a mixture of boos and cheers from the lathered up masses.

But perhaps that shouldn’t be the case.

Hayes caught up with Watters, one of many former players who has filed for disability.

Watters can’t draw or paint, because of injury.

He has pins and plates in his bones.

He can’t sit for long stretches.

And he forgets things. So much so that his wife and kids have to remind him of names and conversations: [Philly.com]

He said he had dozens of concussions, from the time he starred at Bishop McDevitt in Harrisburg, then at Notre Dame, then in San Francisco, Philadelphia and, finally, Seattle, his last stop in a 10-year NFL career.

"Not that I knew what a concussion was then," Watters said.

How many times did he play without his full mental faculties?

"Hundreds of times."

Watters ignored the signs: headaches, fatigue, forgetfulness. His wife of 13 years, Catherina, was his fianceé when he was in Philadelphia. The Ricky she knew was disappearing: the Ricky with a photographic memory; the tireless Ricky who always followed through. She begged him to file for disability.

That incident and a general personality that left quite a bit to be desired, Watters was considered one of the hardest-working Eagles of the time. His ’95 and ’96 seasons are among the best for running backs in franchise history

He’s not broke at all. Read the article and read Rueben Frank’s article on CSNPhilly.com. The Watters family does some great work with charities and the kids in Orlando. He’s one of the best RBs the Eagles have ever had in their history, and he only played for 3 years in Philly.

I feel bad for people who suffer, whether they be rich or poor, it doesn’t matter. It’s kind to show sympathy. With that said, you would think that concussions were just discovered in 2009. As a kid growing up, I knew that if you hit your head hard enough you would get a concussion. For professional athletes to say that they were forced to play a sport in which they were paid millions, not pay attention to the physical risks (i probably wouldn’t either if I was a 22 year old millionaire), then be surprised that they’re cripples in their 40’s seems disingenuous.

Those 2 seasons by Waters are the best ever by an eagles running back, there is no argument look at the numbers dickheads. look at the percentege of total offense Watter’s provided to that team. The carries, receptions, phenomenal.

In my eyes, he helped shape the RB position from the typical “run only” position that it had been to the multi-dimensional position that Marshall Faulk, Priest Holmes, BWest and others have popularized since Watters last played.